Sequential appearance of ankylosing spondylitis, retroperitoneal  fibrosis and achalasia: Coincidental association or evidence of autoimmunity?

. Katsinelos P.; . Christodoulou K.; . Pilpilidis I.; Papagiannis A.; Kalomenopoulou M.; Katsiba D.; Tarpagos A.; Katsos I.; Evgenidis N.

Authors . Katsinelos P., . Christodoulou K., . Pilpilidis I., Papagiannis A., Kalomenopoulou M., Katsiba D., Tarpagos A., Katsos I., Evgenidis N..

Abstract

SUMMARY
The association of idiopathic achalasia with ankylosing
spondylitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis, to our knowledge
not previously reported, is described in a 54 year old woman.
We suggest that the consecutive occurrence of ankylosing
spondylitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis, two well-known
autoimmune disorders, before the presence of achalasia,
reinforces the theory of autoimmunity in etiopathogenesis
of achalasia.
Key words: Achalasia, Ankylosing spondylitis, Retroperitoneal fibrosis, Autoimmunity